what we do > emergency
home repair
Emergency Home Repair
Sheen Housing believes that people can be more productive community
members when they have the basic elements of survival, particularly
shelter. For over 35 years, the Sheen Housing Foundation has
been an advocate for families and seniors of all denominations and
races who need housing repair assistance in maintaining their residences,
elevating their quality of life and eliminating threats to their
health and safety.
Eligibility | How
to Apply | How Extensive is the Need?
Who Does the Work? | Case Histories
Eligibility
Emergency Home Repair grants are subject to family size and household income guidelines. For county-specific information, please contact Sheen Housing at (585) 461-4263.
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How to Apply
Sheen Housing's application packet is now online. You can retrieve
the forms using the free Adobe
Acrobat Reader.
Click here for
the applications.
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How Extensive Is the Need?
Last year, Sheen Housing helped 503 families, seniors, and persons with disabilities
with emergency home repairs. Another 100 are still waiting for
help while Sheen Housing tries to obtain funding and/or contractors
to complete the work. The list seems to grow faster than we can
make repairs.
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Sheen Housing accepts bids from professional contractors skilled
in specific areas of home repair. Contractors are paid for their
work, although many generously donate a portion of their time
and materials. Contractors benefit greatly from jobs they are
awarded both in the form of needed income and the satisfaction
of helping a neighbor in need. Our contractors' dedication and
their generosity is greatly appreciated.
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Case Histories
Mrs. A is a senior citizen who has lived in her family home
all her life. There was no running water or indoor plumbing. She
had always carried her water from a spring and used an outhouse.
Mrs. A had a stroke and was not physically able to move back into
her house due to housing conditions. There were serious repairs
needed to enable her to move back into her home. Through Sheen Housing's
programs, we remodeled the home to make life easier for her. We
installed running water and a kitchen. She now benefits from a complete
bathroom, septic and plumbing.
Mr. and Mrs. D were senior citizens who had rented a house
for most of their life. Taking courage, they worked with a realtor
and purchased a home. Unfortunately, the home required many repairs,
and the cost became a hardship for this senior couple on a fixed
income. With Sheen Housing's program, they had lights put in, floors
installed with proper coverings and doors installed for their safety
and security. Mr. & Mrs. D. are extremely proud of their first
home and are grateful to Sheen Housing for making their dream become
a safe, secure and affordable reality.
Mr. C, his wife and his 17-year-old son are disabled. They
live in a remote town in a very rural setting. We received their
application with a hand-written note stating their needs. The letter
stated the ceilings were falling. A representative from the NYS
Office for the Aging had stopped at the home and called Sheen Housing
to tell us the ceilings could come down "at any time."
This was a very dangerous situation for the family, particularly
because of their disabilities. Sheen Housing's program made the
needed health and safety repairs within the home including replacing
the ceiling, repairing the roof and painting the interior. The Office
for the Aging would make periodic visits to ensure the continued
health and welfare of the family.
Miss F came to Sheen Housing through a referral by the local
weatherization program and the NYS Office for the Aging. This 68-year-old
senior citizen lives on $645 a month from Social Security and could
not afford to make necessary repairs to her home. After Sheen Housing's
inspection, it was determined Miss F's home needed many repairs
to ensure her health, security and safety. All the windows were
in poor condition; the walls, flooring and ceilings in most rooms
needed to be replaced; plumbing, kitchen and bathroom faucets needed
to be replaced; the electric was hazardous; the entry way of the
home was in dire need of repair; the foundation was deteriorating
rapidly and one complete section needed to be replaced immediately
to keep the house from shifting and falling. Through Sheen Housing's
program, we were able to take care of all these repairs. With her
fixed income, she could not have afforded to move and pay rent.
We were able to allow her to remain independent in her home that
is now healthy, secure and safe.
Mrs. G is wheelchair bound. She requested assistance to
fix the steps of her home for her family's safety. Only upon inspection
did we learn that family members carried her in and out of the home
twice a day to use the outhouse. With the help of many sources,
we redesigned a corner of the home and provided a bathroom and new
stairs.
Mr. B is a young man severely handicapped with debilitating
arthritis. He came to Sheen Housing for help in installing a special
soaking tub for medical purposes per his doctor's advice. There
was no room in the 360 square foot, two-room home for this specialized
tub. After a home inspection, we determined that the home required
other housing repairs. Through Sheen Housing's program, an addition
was built for a bedroom, new electric service was installed, as
was plumbing, doors and a handicap accessible kitchen. With this
enlargement of the home, there was room for the tub. Mr. B remains
severely handicapped, but benefits from his therapy in the tub.
He can care for his daily needs in less pain and with an improved
outlook.
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